Levi Burnell (1803-1881) was the Treasurer
and Secretary of Oberlin College. Born in Northampton,
Massachusetts, he went to Rochester as a young man. There, he ran
a drug store, and became involved in the religious and reform
movements. But he had a bent for scientific invention. He became
a member of the Franklin Institute, where he delivered a
pioneering address on electric telegraphy in December 1827. He
was head of the Lorain Iron Company in Elyria before taking up the
post of Treasurer and Corresponding Secretary in Oberlin College
1835. It was his plan for a cooking stove that led to Philo P.
Stewart's invention. (See Chellis S. Hopkins, "Recollections of
Other Days" in The Oberlin News [May 17, 1901], p.
8.)

Finney received the following letter from
Josiah Chapin when he was in Cleveland.

Dr. Brother Finney Providence Nov 22d
1837

Your letter of the 10th inst
came

[to] hand yesterday. Annexd. you
have H. E. Hudson Cash.

check on the Bank U. State Philadelphia for
one

hundred dolls, which please accept in part
payment

of your salary as Professor in Oberlin
Institute &endash;

I hope soon to hear of the arrival of Prof.
Morgan

who will from what I know of him be most
likely

to suit our people the best, of the two who
are coming East

of your Profs. We have all most daily some
Minister

proposed to us, but we do not yet find one
who

appears to be suited for us --- Your Bro
in christian love Josiah Chapin